Pineleaf Estate accused of land grabbing in Anambra (videos)

The indigenous people of Umuoji, Abatete, Uke and Ogidi Towns in Anambra State, Nigeria, have accused Pineleaf Estate, owned by Bishop Onyeka Nzekwesi, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Pineleaf Estate and Properties Ltd., of fraudulent land grabbing.

Indigenes of the four towns disclosed this in a disclaimer, video and audio made available to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) earlier in the week.

In the disclaimer, the indigenes accused Pineleaf Estate, a company belonging to Bishop Nzekwesi, of encroaching on their ancestral land.

Pineleaf Estate in land-grabbing mess

Chieftains from the four Ebonano villages in Umuoji, including Umuobia, Umuechem, Uruedeke and Ifite endorsed the disclaimer.

Signed by Mr. Stephen Mbaneme, the Chairman of Ebonano villages, the document reads:

“We the good people and members of Ebonano villages, made up of Umuobia, Umuechem, Uruedeke and Ifite villages of Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, under the able leadership of Mbaneme Stephen Onuora, wish to notify the general public as follows:

• That the large expanse of land at Mpia Umuoji sharing common boundary with Ogidi Town from the North side, Abatete Town from the East Side and Uke Town from the South belongs to Ebonano villages made up of the above stated villages.
• That it is to our notice that one PINELEAF ESTATE AND PROPERTIES LIMITED is advertising the land for sale.
• That Ebonano villages never at any time sold the land to PINELEAF ESTATE AND PROPERTIES LIMITED neither do we intend to do so.
• The general public is by this disclaimer warned to refrain from engaging or transacting any business regarding the land with PINELEAF ESTATE AND PROPERTIES LIMITED or their agents.”

Pineleaf Estate advertorial

The people of Umuoji, therefore, warned any person(s) dealing or engaging in any financial transaction with the estate purportedly on behalf Ebonano villages to desist.

Failure to do so, they warned, the person(s) will be doing so at his, her or their own peril.

“Ebonano villages will not be responsible for any financial loses that he/she or they may incur,” the disclaimer added.

See a copy of the disclaimer, dated April 1, 2025, below:

How the trouble started

Trouble started when Nzekwesi, in a video, went to the site with a handful of his entourage and declared readiness to develop it.

He enjoined all interested investors to purchase plots from the land and move ahead with the development.

In his words, the land is a perfect gift from God and anyone who misses the opportunity stands to regret!

Watch the video, which was recorded in Igbo language, below:

Umuoji residents fight back

Umuoji residents quickly countered with the disclaimer against Pineleaf Estate shown above.

The document was, meanwhile, complimented by a parallel video shot by an unnamed self-acclaimed indigene of Umuoji.

In the video, the speaker, likewise, warned all would-be “victims” to stay away from the land or face regrettable consequences.

Watch the video, which, once again, was recorded in Igbo language, below:

Abatete, Uke and Ogidi join the Pineleaf Estate fray

Similarly, three other towns, including Abatete, Uke and Ogidi also issued an audio disclaimer respecting the same land.

According to them, the land spanning across the three towns, including Umuoji, has nothing to do with Pineleaf Estate.

In the audio message, the speaker stated categorically that the towns have no business with Pineleaf Estate and Properties Limited

He warned that anyone doing business with the development company does so at his own peril.

Listen to the audio disclaimer below:

Nzekwesi, however, will not take the punches against Pineleaf lying down.

He quickly released another video telling his audience how Pineleaf Estate has rightful ownership of the said property.

He also attached documents to back his claim, which documents are not easily eligible on the video.

Nzekwesi warned all Umuoji and sundry detractors to flee from the land or face lawsuit, including those bordering on libel.

Again, watch another video, which was recorded in Igbo language by Nzekwesi, below:

DDM will publish more details of this development involving Pineleaf Estate in subsequent bulletin.

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